joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Edwards Robert" <err3457@msn.com>
Reply-To: robert_edwards@rediffmail.com
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 11:38:15 +0000
Subject: Re:-Help

FROM THE DESCK OF: Mr.Simon Modibbo
Hang Seng Bank Ltd
Fu Shan Mansion, 25 Taikoo Shing Road
Taikoo Shing Branch, Hong Kong.

email:-robert_edwards@rediffmail.com


I am Mr.Robert Edwards credit officer of the foreign operations dept of the
Hang Seng Bank Ltd, Taikoo Shing Branch. I have an obscured business
suggestion for you. Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Colonel Sadiq
Uday who was with the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered
fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Nineteen millions Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity
several notices was sent to him, even during the war. Again after the war
another notification was sent and still no response came from him.

We later find out that the Colonel and his family had been killed during the
war in bomb blast that hit their home. After further investigation it was
also discovered that Colonel Sadiq Uday did not declare any next of kin in
his, official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he
also confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me
knew of his deposit in my bank. So, Nineteen millions Five Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come
forward to claim it.
What bothers me most is that according to the to the laws of my country at
the expiration 3 years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong
Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop,
my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the
next of kin to Colonel Sadiq Uday so that you will be able to receive his
funds.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the
necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to Colonel Sadiq
Uday, all that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me
with your Full Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job.
After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also fill in for
claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of
probate in your favor for the move of the funds to an account that will be
provided by you.

There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going adopt a
legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents.
Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this
issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account
the sharing ratio is open for negotiation for you.

Should you be interested please send me your full names and current
residential address and I will prefer you to reach me on the email and
finally after that I shall provide you with more details of this operation.
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated via email
address:-robert_edwards@rediffmail.com

Best Regards,
Mr.Robert Edwards


Anti-fraud resources: